Automatic fluid control



Jan. 5 1926.

G. BUELNA AUToMATlC FLUID CONTROL Filed August 25, 1924 4. 0 5 T 2 n v /N :anni

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Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

SUNITED STATESy PATENT omer..

GuAnALUrii B'UELNA, or SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA.

Au'roMA'rIo FLuIn ooN'rRoL.

Application led August 25, 1924. Serial No. 733,921.

off means for fluid conveying systems, and it has especial reference to a device for regulating" the period of time duringwhich a fluid may' discharge.`

` bj'ects off the invention are' toprovide an el'ective arrangement in which the flow of water`` or other' fluidis automatically interrupted after adefin'ite 'predetermined quantityhas been delivered-through the system; to provide'a device in' which the quant1`ty to be'dischfarged may be predetermined, and to provide a simple control which may be attached to any fluid conveying system.

rlhe invention, while chiefly applicable to sprinkling systems, isl usable in many other i`r71`stancesi` In those'v elaborate systems 1nstalled for sprinl'li'nlg extensiveestategwhere a great number of individual sprinklers' are used inrelative close proximity to irrigate the'f lawn, it is not only desirable for the economical conserv'ationS of water to prevent .anr excess delivery of water, but necessary for effective irrigation tof regulate the delivery of water that thoseportions` of the soil which are in greatest need of water be supplied as required. The purpose of the present" invention therefore is to provide means by which indiscriminate irrig'atioriy may be obvia-tfed and water vdistribution concentrated@ and localized as requiredLT by the condition of the ground. p

These objects and' others appearing hereinafter are? attained by a formof device sug` gested in the accoinpainying` drawing, in Which- Fig. 1 is a side elevationpartly 'in section,

of a structure which illustrates the principle upon which my invention' is based.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View takenVv on lineQ---Q` Fig; 1 looking"` in the'direction of the arrow, andr Fig.` 3' is' a fragmentary s'ectin'alview talien onsubstantiallytheline 3"3 Fig. 1.

The vdrawingf an illustration of' one`r of many forms which maybe used to execute the 'principle of" operation of' my invention,

and this form is shown as comprising generally ahollow body 1, formed or provided with means, as 2, for attachment to a source of fluid supply, not shown, and with an eX- ternally threaded extension 1 for receiving the end of a fluid conveying pipe or hose not shown. The hollow body 1 is formed with a seat 3, for a valve 4, which `is disposed within the water passageway 1a of the hol# low body 1, and which is under the constant pressure of the water or fluid passing and is lheld by the lwater pressure passing throughthe body 1. The support or cam 6 is' movable axially inr said body 1 and with respect to said stem 4 at one time to unseat the valve 4' and'hold saine unseated, and at` means presently explained. The support or cam 6' is preferably shapedl witha gradually recedingsurface 6 by which the engaging valve stein 4, following such surface 6 permits a' seating vof the valve 4 without a jar or knock. This cam 6V comprises preferably an integral part of a shaft 7 havinga conii cal portion 7 which seats and sealsthe aperture 8, through which the cylindrical part 9 of said shaft 7 extends. A cap 10 serves to enclose the earn Grand' its connected adjuncts and a spring 11, is preferably employed to maintain a pressure upon the shaft 7 and insure the snug engagement of the conical portion thereof with the aperture 8, to prevent" leaking.

" Freely and sli'dably engaging the cylindrical party 9 of the shaft' 7 is a lever 12, pivotally lconnected with the' rod 13 of a piston 14, operable within a cylinder 15'. The pistonlrod1 13 audits associated piston 14 are held normally in retracted position by a spring 16, which acts also to return the Y i piston tonorinalf or retracted position when moved" from" such position, as eXplained In the retracted'V position of the pis@ the piston 14 is diametrically smaller than the chamber 17 within which it is disposed and with which it (the cylinder) is in communication at the top. The chamber 17, may constitute an integral unit with the body 1, and is provided in the top thereof with a vent or outlet 1S, which is arranged to be closed, for purposes appearing later, by a valve member 19, carried by a float 20, which in the normal position of the parts as indicated in Fig. 1. rests upon the top of the cylinder 15. The wall 17 of the chamber 17 is provided with aduct 21 through which a quantity of the water or fluid passing through the hollow body 1 may enter the chamber 17. The quantity of fluid that may pass through the duct 21 may be regulated by a needle or other valve 22, the time required for the water to fill the chamber 17 governing the time of actuation of the valve 4, through its intermediate instrumentalities, as explained, and consequently controlling the length of time during which the Water may pass through the body 1. The chamber 17 is provided with a pet cock 23 through which a quantity of water equal to the quantity of water entering said chamber through the duct 21 may escape furnishing a guide for theoperator in adjusting the device for delivering a stream or streams of water for a predetermined length of time; the pet cock 23 also serves to relieve the pressure within said chamber 17 as appearing in the description following of the operation of the device.

In the position of' the parts shown inFig. 1, the valve 4 is unseated and the stem y4 of the valve is supported upon the apex 6 of the cam 6, this position of the cam 6 being insured by the spring 16 which holds the piston 14 retracted, as indicated. Assuming the device is attached to a source of fluid supply which is released to pass through the body 1 in the direction of the arrow, a portion of the fluid will escape through the duct 21, (assuming that the needle valve 22 is open), into the chamber 17. rlhe rate of passage of the fluid through said duct 21 determines the period of time required to fill the chamber 17 and the period of flow of fluid through the hollow body 1 is substantially equal to the period of time required to fill the chamber. The rate of passage of the fluid through the duct 21, is controlled by the needle valve 22 and a determination of the rate of such passage through the duct 21 is ascertained by opening the pet cock 23. The fluid escaping from said pet cock is an accurate index of the quantity of water passing into said chamber 17 and by observation of such escaping fluid, the period of time within which the chamber will be filled may be accurately pnedetermined. If the chamber fills too fast or .too slow, adjustment of the needle valve readily regulates the flow to the needed capacity. After the adjustment has been made, the pet cock is closed.

While the fluid is passing through the hollow body 1, constantly urging the stem 4 of the valve 4, upon the apex (5 of the cani 6, a portion of the fluid is passing through the duct 21. As the fluid rises in and fills the chamber 17, the float 2O is lifted and the valve 19 on said float 20, gradually forced into the port 18, in top of said chamber 17. eventually closing it, and confining air within the top of said chamber. The constant and steady passage of fluid through the duct 21, forces the water level in the chamber higher, and increasingly compresses the air. lVhen the float has risen with the level of the fluid in the chamber, the fluid will have flowed into the upper part of the cylinder 15 and upon the piston 14 therein. During the gradual increase of pressure within the chamber 17, the piston 14 is forced against the tension of the spring 16, and in so being forced outwardly, the rod 13 effects a gradual axial movement of the shaft 7. By this movement of the shaft 7 the cam 6 thereof is also moved and the valve stem 4, resting thereon travels with said cam 6 until the valve 4 has seated, and shuts off the flow of water through the body 1. To reset or cause the parts to be returned from their operative position shown in dotted lines, to their inoperative positions, shown in full lines, the source of fluid supply is first shut off to relieve the water or fluid pressure upon the valve 4 and then the pet cock 23 is opened for the purpose of draining the chamber 17. The spring 13 having therefore no counter-resistance, restores the piston 14 to normal position.

lVhat I claim is:

1. An automatic fluid control comprising a hollow body having a fluid inlet and an outlet, a `valve to control said outlet, means holding said valve normally unseated, a chamber associated with said hollow body and provided with a duct for conveying a portion of the fluid from said hollow body to said chamber and with a vent, a piston operable in said chamber and connected with 7 said valve holding means, a valve within said chamber to seal the vent therein thereby to cause the fluid pressure therein to operate said piston and permit the valve in said body to seat and sluit off the flow of fluid, and means for regulating the flow of fluid from said body to said chamber.

2. An automatic fluid control comprising a hollow body having a fluid inlet and an outlet, a valve to control said outlet, a means holding said valve normally unseated, a chamber associated with said hollow body and provided with a duct for conveying a portion of the fluid from said hollow body to said chamber, and with a vent, a piston in said chamber and connected With said Valve holding means, and a floating valve in said chamber to seal the vent therein and cause the Huid pressure to operate said piston and permit the valve in said body to seat and shut olf the flow of fluid.

3. An automatic fluid control comprising a hollow` body having a fluid inlet and an outlet, a valve to control said outlet, a cam means holding said valve normally unseated, a chamber associated With said hollow body and provided With a duct for conveying a portion ofthe fluidfrom said hollow body to able in said chamber and connected With said cam means, a float valve Within said u chamber to seal the vent therein thereby to cause the fluid pressure therein to operate said piston and cam means and permit the valve in said body to seat and shut olf the flow of fluid, and means for regulatingfthe loW of fluid from said body to said cham* lIn testimony whereof I have set my hand.

GUADALUPE BUELNA. 

